Click to play videoGandhinagar: The BJP regards Keshubhai Patel as its tallest leader in Gujarat: a man who can be of immense help in winning the December elections.
All that Keshubhai has to do is campaign for the BJP, but the former chief minister is neither speaking for the party nor against it. That leaves Chief Minister Narendra Modi fighting a lone battle in the state, as even the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’ Gujarat unit is skipping the polls.
The BJP’s top brass have mollified Keshubhai, who has the support of the Patel community and has a strong following in Saurashtra and North Gujarat, many a times.
Earlier this week party general secretary and Modi confidante Arun Jaitley made a last ditch attempt to make the senior leader agree to campaign for Modi and the party. Jaitley failed and all he could achieve was a promise that Keshubhai won’t campaign against the party.
As BJP spokesperson Prakesh Javdekar says: "Keshubhai has indicated that he is not against the party." But even his silence can hurt the BJP. Keshubhai has told CNN-IBN that he will not campaign for the BJP, making it clear that his opposition to Modi remains intact
The BJP offered Bharat, Keshubhai’s son, a party ticket to contest from Visavadar in Junagarh district but he refused and the party failed to end differences.
The BJP’s other headache is VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia. Togadia has been on bad terms with Modi for over four years now and he is staying away from the polls and Gujarat.
When Modi invited Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen to Gujarat, Togadia was livid. “Bangladeshis don't respect Hindus. We often hear of Hindu women being raped and harassed in that country. Then why should we give security to Tasima Nasreen. She should be undoubtedly sent to Bangladesh. I am Hindu leader and not responsible for Muslims,” said Togadia.
The VHP's national leaders have their Gujarat unit to help Modi but Togadia is no mood to obey and neither are his supporters.
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